Turkey spent over $700 mn for Syrian refugees

Turkey has spent about $736 million to shelter Syrian refugees, whose number has exceeded 200,000, the government statistics have revealed.

According to the data released by the Prime Ministry 's Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate, Turkey has spent the money on medical services, food and other types of humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees, Xinhua reported Thursday.

In addition, the country has set up nearly two dozen camps for 200,837 refugees, while a similar number of Syrians live on their own mostly in border cities, it added.

These refugees, who fled the 29-month-old domestic conflict, are reportedly provided with lodging, food, health services, security, education and religious services.

Amid a potential US-led strike against Syria, UN refugee officials said the number of Syrian refugees in Turkey might reach one million by the year-end.

Turkey, once an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is presently a leading voice urging his ouster.